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A long-term effort is underway to stabilize the Net River Dam in Covington Township.
In late April, corrosion of a water control structure in the middle of the dam caused a sinkhole to develop. The dam itself remains in place, and no flood occurred.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials say that, if the dam were to give way, consequences would be minimal.
Workers have begun a slow draw-down of the 400-acre backwater, to allow repairs to be made. The controlled release is expected to continue into next year.
As the water level drops, the boating access site will become unusable, and recreational activities will be limited.
The Net River dam had been inspected in August, 2020, and received a rating of fair.
